This last Friday night our ferret, Pauley, had a severe allergic reaction to his distemper shot he had that evening. He was vomiting, running around, breathing heavy, having diarrhea. Then he went limp in my arms and I thought he was dead! Please read this article below, because all pets, not just ferrets, can have this reaction, which is called Anaphylaxis. Our vet neglected to tell us to wait 15 minutes at the office in case of this reaction. We were the last appointment. Luckily a 24 hour place was open to give him a steroid shot. We than gave him 2 doses of Benedryl (children's). He is doing very well now,running around like nothing happened:)
What if My Pet Has A Reaction To The Distemper Vaccine?
Anaphylaxis refers to a sudden and severe allergic reaction that causes a crisis in many body systems. It occurs in all species of mammals as well as in human beings. Some signs of vaccine reaction that ferrets experience are rapid breathing, redness or blushing of its ears, restlessness, vomiting and mucus diarrhea - both of which can contain blood, collapse, seizures and even death. I would refuse to revacinate a ferret that ever experienced any of these signs, no matter how mild. Each time the reaction is likely to be more severe. Anaphylaxis is an immunologic event in that portions of the immune system are responsible for all the events that occur. The immune system of ferrets and other animals contain memory cells that recognize things foreign to the body. To gain immunologic memory the body must be exposed to the agent once, to know it, and then a second time to remember it. Because of this the ferret’s first distemper shot never causes a problem.
When the ferret is exposed to the vaccine a second or third or fourth time the foreign protein (antigen or allergen) causes the release of dangerous mediator chemicals called histamines, leukotrienes, prostaglandins and tryptase. The ferret’s blood cells that are responsible for the release of these chemicals are called basophils and mast cells. These four chemicals cause the smooth muscle within the respiratory and digestive tract to contract and smooth muscle surrounding the blood vessels to relax. Blood vessels also begin to leak. This causes the respiratory distress and shock-like drop in blood pressure characteristic of anaphylaxis in ferrets. Histamine released into the skin causes the hives we see frequently in dogs and humans undergoing an anaphylactic reaction. In people, the most common cause of anaphylaxis are antibiotics, peanuts and bee stings.
It is safest if your pet does not receive more than one vaccination in a given week. After it receives it shot, stay in the waiting room for at least a twenty minutes and observe your pet to be sure it is OK. While you are waiting, do not let the ferret roam around the waiting room or introduce itself to other pets.
When I was using the old Fervac-D vaccine to vaccinate ferrets, I became all too familiar with anaphylaxis in ferrets. Within two minutes or less following vaccination, some ferrets would salivate and begin to hyperventilate. They would often void their urine and bowels. Some turned blue. I saw so many reactions that I began giving all ferrets a small (0.2ml) dose of chlorpheniramine maleate or benedryl antihistamine about twenty minutes before giving the vaccine. I never let ferrets leave the office until thirty minutes after receiving a vaccination. The company that produced this vaccine never admitted to problems.
Ferrets that show any signs of an impending vaccine reaction immediately receive an injection of epinephrine and oxygen via a face mask.
These acute allergies or anaphylactic reactions are due to the ferret’s body becoming sensitized to ingredients in the vaccine. It is not the actual virus protein, needed to immunize the ferret, that causes the reaction but other ingredients used in the propagation of the distemper virus or used to preserve and fortify the vaccine.
If your ferret ever experiences a vaccine reaction and you feel that you must go through this again, insist that it receives an antihistamine injection 20 minutes before its next vaccination or, if your lifestyle does not bring the animal in contact with dogs and distemper, consider forgoing the vaccinations entirely or modify the pet's lifestyle so vaccination becomes unnecessary.
My suggestions are for owners of pet ferrets in typical household situations. They are not for ferret breeders or people who keep large numbers of ferrets , nor for pet shops, ranchers, shelter or pet show conditions. In those situations, the likelyhood of exposure is much greater, the likelihood of a weakened immune system is greater and distemper virus exposure can be massive enough to override the animal's immunity.
Read full article, by Ron Hines DVM PhD
http://www.2ndchance.info/distemperferret.htm
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